Husky sledding in Tromsø

There are no husky camps in the city itself. The tours start at kennels outside Tromsø, for example on Kvaløya, in Breivikeidet or in the Tamok valley, and many tours include the bus or minibus ride from the centre. Alaskan huskies are widely used in the region, and Visit Tromsø describes them as fast, resilient and well suited to Arctic conditions. In the past, dog sleds carried people and goods between settlements in the north. Today sledding is a sport and a way of life for many people in the region.

Our overview of winter activities in Tromsø gives husky sledding a short paragraph. This page goes further into the planning: which weeks have snow, how much light a December morning gives you, what the different camps mean for your day and how to combine a sled trip with the rest of your plans.

Snow and the season

According to Visit Tromsø, sledding on snow is usually possible from November to April, and the start depends on when the snow arrives. Before that, some kennels harness the dogs to wheeled carts instead. Those autumn runs only take place when the air is cold enough for the dogs, so even the cart season depends on the weather.

November and April are the uncertain ends. The camps on Kvaløya and at Breivikeidet sit close to the sea, and near the coast the snow cover is least reliable in those two months. The Breivikeidet operator states that a tour may switch to wheeled wagons if there is too little snow, and that trips are cancelled when the weather or the trail would be unsafe for guests or dogs. The Tamok valley lies inland, with Tamokvatnet in the middle of the valley at 263 metres above sea level. For dates at the edges of the season, that is the area to look at first.

How the light changes your choice

Light matters more for a husky trip than for most activities, because the point is to see the trail, the dogs and the country around you. During the polar night, from about 27 November to 15 January, the sun stays below the horizon. Around midday there are still a few hours of twilight: on 21 December, the shortest day, civil twilight lasts from 09:31 to 13:53.

That makes the departure time worth a second look. Tromsø Villmarkssenter lists departures at 07:30, 08:30, 09:30 and 10:30 for its self-drive trip on Kvaløya, which lasts a little over four hours. In December a 09:30 start puts the ride close to the brightest part of the day. The advanced tour at Camp Tamok leaves at 09:30 or at 14:00, and with a bus ride of about 1.5 hours, an afternoon start in December or January means sledding in the dark.

The days lengthen quickly after the polar night. On 1 February the sun rises at 09:25 and sets at 14:31. On 1 March it is up from 07:11 to 16:43, and an afternoon departure has plenty of light. If you travel in late winter, pack sunglasses: Tromsø Villmarkssenter asks guests to bring them in February, March and April.

Driving the team or riding in the sled

Many tours from Tromsø are self-drive. Two people share a sled: one stands on the runners and drives, the other sits in the basket, and you swap halfway. Before you set off, the guides explain how to brake and steer. It is more physical than it looks. On Kvaløya, Tromsø Villmarkssenter expects self-drive guests to jog uphill through snow, keep their balance and hold on securely to the sled, and at Camp Tamok there are advanced tours where you push the sled up the hills and through fresh snow. Some self-drive tours set upper limits for age or weight, so read the conditions of the tour you pick.

On a passenger tour an experienced musher drives and you sit in the sled, usually with one or two others. This is the format for families with small children, for anyone who does not want to steer, and for photographers who want both hands free. Remember that sitting still is colder than driving, so dress in an extra layer. If you use the included bus with a small child, Tromsø Villmarkssenter asks you to bring an approved child car seat.

Most trips from the city are half-day tours. Visit Tromsø also lists full-day trips and two-day trips with a night at the camp.

Where the camps are

The transfer is part of the excursion time. A Kvaløya trip of about four hours spends far less of the day on the road than the seven-hour Tamok day, which includes around three hours of bus travel. In return the Tamok trail runs through an inland valley, away from the coast.

How long you are actually on the sled

The total tour time says little about the ride itself. At Breivikeidet the sledding lasts about 30 minutes in two legs of 10–15 minutes, with a stop for photos and a swap in between. On the Villmarkssenter trips the ride is about 45 minutes. On the Arctic Adventure Tours trip on Kvaløya it is 70–80 minutes, and that tour is the exception rather than the rule. The rest of the time goes to the briefing, dressing, the dog yard and a meal. If time on the runners is your main reason to go, compare the stated ride times on the tour pages before you book.

What to wear

Many tours lend you a thermal suit and winter boots at the camp, and the Breivikeidet operator also hands out a hat and mittens. What you wear underneath is up to you. Visit Tromsø recommends woollen base layers and several warm layers, and advises preparing for anything from −25 °C to +5 °C on trips out of town. Put the layers on before the pickup, because you change into the outer gear at the camp. Our page on what to wear in Tromsø lists the full kit.

Fitting a husky trip into your stay

A morning husky trip leaves the evening free. Visit Tromsø says the northern lights are often most active between about 20:00 and 02:00, so a sled trip in daylight and a northern lights tour after dinner fit into the same day. Some husky tours also offer a chance of seeing the aurora, but no one can promise clear skies.

The Tamok day is long enough to need a day of its own. Plan it for a day with nothing else booked, and keep an evening tour for another day.

Not every tour includes transport, but Visit Tromsø recommends organised tours with transport in winter, because icy roads carry a high risk. Since many tours include the transfer, there is little reason to rent a car for this.

If you like dogs but do not want to sit on a sled, there is also a snowshoe hike with huskies on the leash at the Kvaløya camp. More walking ideas are on our page about snowshoeing.

Ride times, camps and age limits for the husky tours from Tromsø are listed side by side on husky-tromso.com.